Europäisches Patentamt *EP001347087A2* (19) European Patent Office Office européen des brevets (11) EP 1 347 087 A2 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.7: D03D 39/16, D03D 39/10 24.09.2003 Bulletin 2003/39 (21) Application number: 03075833.8 (22) Date of filing: 21.03.2003 (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR • Debaes, John HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR 8890 Moorslede (BE) Designated Extension States: • Moulin, Gilbert AL LT LV MK 8930 Rekkem (BE) (30) Priority: 22.03.2002 BE 200200210 (74) Representative: Ostyn, Frans et al K.O.B. NV, (71) Applicant: NV Michel van de Wiele Kennedypark 31 c 8510 Kortrijk/Marke (BE) 8500 Kortrijk (BE) (54) Weaving machine and method for weaving fabrics with pile loops (57) This invention relates to a face-to-face weaving pile loop fabrics, in which at least three weft yarns (14, machine comprising upper (5) and lower spacers (6) for 15, 22) are inserted above one another during succes- extending in the warp direction between two fabrics (12), sive weft insertion cycles on a face-to-face weaving ma- (13) and a weft insertion device (2), (3), (4) for inserting chine, in which an upper (12) and a lower backing fabric weft yarns (22) between the spacers (5), (6), said spac- (13) are woven, and loop weft yarns (22) are inserted ers being carried out as a regid element with a first (5c), between the two fabrics (12), (13) and are kept at a dis- (6c) and a second part (5B), (6B), the vertical interme- tance of the backing fabrics (12), (13), and in which pile diate distance between the first parts (5c), (6c) of the warp yarns (23-28) form pile loops over loop weft yarns spacers (6) being shorter than said distance between (22), so that two pile loop fabrics are woven, whereas the second parts (5B), (6B) such that the weft yarns (22) pile warp yarns (23-28) are interlaced in the upper (12) can be inserted between said second parts (5B), (6B). and the lower backing fabric (13) alternately and are cut This invention also relates to a method for weaving through between the two fabrics (12), (13), so that zones with a cut pile are obtained on the fabrics. EP 1 347 087 A2 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 1 347 087 A2 2 Description upper and lower lancets in order to keep the loop weft yarns at a distance from the backing fabrics. During [0001] This invention relates to a face-to-face weav- each weft insertion, a weft yarn is inserted between the ing machine provided to form a shed between warp two lancets. yarns during successive weft insertion cycles and each 5 [0008] With this type of machines, however, the weft time to insert one or more weft yarns into this shed, so insertion is carried out by a set of rapiers moving be- that two backing fabrics may be woven simultaneously tween the lancets. Then the vertical distance between above one another, this weaving machine comprising the upper and the lower lancets should be sufficiently upper and lower spacers, which are provided in order to long to allow the rapiers to pass freely. The distance be- extend between the said backing fabrics in the warp di- 10 tween the lancets and the respective backing fabrics de- rection during weaving and this weaving machine com- termines the loop height. With these weaving machines, prising a weft insertion device provided in order to insert the loop height should be kept limited, so that sufficient weft yarns between the upper and lower spacers. space should be available for the rapiers to move. It is [0002] More particularly, the present invention relates a purpose of this invention to remedy this drawback. to a face-to-face weaving machine, which has been de- 15 [0009] This purpose will be attained by providing a signed for weaving simultaneously two fabrics with pile face-to-face weaving machine designed to form a shed loops. More particularly, it deals with a face-to-face between the warp yarns during the successive weft in- weaving machine equipped with a four-position jac- sertion cycles and each time to insert one or more weft quard machine. yarns into this shed, so that two backing fabrics may be [0003] The present invention likewise relates to a 20 woven simultaneously one above the other, this weav- method for weaving fabrics with pile loops, in which each ing machine comprising upper and lower spacers, de- time at least three weft yarns are inserted above one signed to extend between the said backing fabrics in the another at a respective insertion level during successive warp direction during weaving, this machine comprising weft insertion cycles on a face-to-face weaving ma- a weft insertion device designed to insert weft yarns be- chine, an upper and a lower backing fabric being woven 25 tween the upper and lower spacers, and the weaving from respective backing warp yarns and backing weft machine according to the present invention comprising yarns, first and second loop weft yarns being inserted spacers carried out in such a manner that they have a between the two backing fabrics and being kept at a dis- first part to form loops and a second part linking up with tance from the two backing fabrics, first pile warp yarns it, and shaped such that the vertical intermediate dis- being alternately interlaced in the upper backing fabric 30 tance between the first parts of the upper and the lower and forming a pile loop over at least one first loop weft spacers is shorter than the vertical intermediate dis- yarn, second pile warp yarns alternately being inter- tance between the second parts of the upper and lower laced in the lower backing fabric forming a pile loop over spacers, and further also comprising a weft insertion de- at least one second loop weft yarn and the first and sec- vice designed to insert weft yarns between the said sec- ond loop weft yarns being subsequently removed, so 35 ond parts of this rigid elements. that two fabrics with pile loops are being woven at the [0010] Preferably, the longer vertical intermediate dis- same time. tance between the said second parts is obtained be- [0004] More particularly, the present invention relates cause the spacers are carried out with a bend. Then the to a method for weaving carpets having one or more first parts (preferably the end parts) are situated be- zones with pile loops at the face being used as well as 40 tween the rulers of the weaving machine, while the said one or more zones with a cut pile and/or one or more second parts are situated where the shed is formed and zones having a ribbed structure (false bouclé fabric) and where the weft yarns are inserted. /or one or more zones with a pile-free effect (where the [0011] In such an embodiment, sufficient space is backing weave is visible) and/or one or more zones with available between the second parts of the spacers to pile warp yarns floating on the pile face (flat weave), the 45 allow a weft insertion means, such as for instance a ra- zones with different effects together forming a pre-de- pier, to pass freely. The loop height is determined by the termined figure or pattern. first parts of the spacers. Even when the vertical dis- [0005] More particularly the present invention relates tance between these first parts is rather short, the ver- to a method carried out by means of a face-to-face tical distance between the second parts may be suffi- weaving machine according to the present invention de- 50 cient to allow the weft insertion means to pass freely. scribed in this patent application. Because of this, greater loop heights may be realized. [0006] Of course, the present invention also relates to [0012] As clearly appears from the preceding pages, the fabrics and more particularly to the multicoloured such a face-to-face weaving machine is particularly suit- carpets manufactured according to a similar method. able for weaving fabrics with pile loops according to the [0007] In the European patent application with publi- 55 present invention. Because of this, fabrics with pile cation number EP 0 974 690 a face-to-face weaving ma- loops can be produced at a high productivity and at a chine is described having the characteristics indicated great weaving speed. Moreover, it is possible, within a in the first section of this description. This machine has same method and on the same weaving machine, to ob- 2 3 EP 1 347 087 A2 4 tain fabrics with a large number of different effects, al- ing a greater variety than the pile loop fabrics known. lowing fabrics to be produced, the pile face of which will [0021] According to the present invention, this pur- show a wide variety. pose is attained by providing for a method for weaving [0013] Preferably, the spacers are designed to keep fabrics with pile loops, where on a face-to-face weaving the weft yarns, inserted between them, at a distance 5 machine, during successive weft insertion cycles, each from the respective backing fabrics, while the said first time at least three weft yarns are inserted at a respective parts for forming loops comprise at least two parts of a insertion level above one another, an upper and a lower different height, so that the said distance may be mod- backing fabric being woven from respective backing ified.